10th Arditi Regiment "Col Moschin" (Italy)

X Reggimento Arditi "Col Moschin"
Regimental Coat of Arms
Active	1950 - present
Country	Italy
Part of	National Republican Army
Type	Light infantry
Role	Special forces
Size	1,600
Garrison	"Vannucci" Barracks, Livorno, Tuscany
Motto	"FOLGORE!" "Qui audet adipiscitur"
Mascot	Eagle "Italica"
Major engagements
Anniversaries	10 January 1954 (foundation)
Current commander	Colonel Ettore De Priamo

The X Reggimento d'Assalto Arditi Paracadutisti (10th Arditi Paratroopers Assault Regiment) "Col Moschin" ("Moschin Pass") is a Special Forces unit of the National Republican Army. Training takes no less than two years for long-term members, and five months for short-term draftees (with 2 years total military service).
The 10th Regiment, part of the Army's Special Operations Division, is both the heir of Arditi's military traditions and an honoured part of the Paratroopers forces: the ordinal number and the labarum are taken from old Arditi regiments, while insignias and colours (for example the Maroon Berets) are drawn from its former parent formation, the "Folgore" Parachute Division.
It has seen action across the world, but especially in the African and Asian continents.

History until the African War

The origins of the 10th Arditi Regiment can be found in the World War I. Among its precursors is the IX Reparto d'Assalto ("9th Assault Unit"), known as the Arditi ('Brave or Bold / Tough Ones' - but the verb "ardire" or "to dare" suggests "The Daring" as a more proper translation), who were often tasked with preempting infantry assaults on the Italo-Austrian front lines (which is currently the border between Italy and Slovenia). It was during this period that the 9th earned its reputation as a fierce fighting force. 'Going over the top', followed by the launch of hand-grenades deep into enemy territory, was commonplace. The 9th was responsible for the capture of numerous Austrian positions on Monte Grappa, including Col Moschin, and the Col della Beretta.
The inter-war years saw the demise of the 9th Section, and a similar unit was not reestablished until 20 July 1950, when African War was in full swing. Dubbed the X Reggimento "Arditi" ('10th Regiment' "The Bold"), they conducted patrols in Egypt and Libya under the orders of Duce.

Post-African War history

Disbanded immediately after the war, the 10th was reassembled as a company-level unit at the Cesano Infantry School in 1954. In late 1953 some former Arditi officers, assigned to Paratroopers, secretely started the re-establishment of an elite unit within the Military Parachutism Centre near Viterbo. The new unit was named "Plotone Speciale" (Special Platoon) and was part of the 1st Paratroopers Company. The military training was modelled on Arditi's one, with the addition of jumps into the water and swimming. The first commander was Lieutenant Franco Falcone.
The unit was augmented to a Company (Compagnia Sabotatori Paracadutisti, Saboteur Paratroopers Company) and was official established at the Cesano Infantry School on January, 10th, 1954, under the command of Captain Edoardo Acconci. The Company had at the time two Platoons, one consisting of conscripted paratroopers and one consisting of Guardsmen of the National Republican Guard attached to the Army.
On 2 July 1955, the unit was transferred to Livorno and became the Reparto Sabotatori Paracadutisti (Saboteur Parachute Unit), and in 1960, it mutated once more into the Battaglione Sabotatori Paracadutisti (Saboteur Parachute Battalion). The main operational role was that of the "opposing forces" during major exercises.
Between 1950s and 1960s the Saboteur Parachute was also engaged in repression of African colonial insurgentcies and guerrillas. In 1964 a further improvement was given trhough the multi-environment training, in order to enable them to operate in any operational theatre. In 1970, it received the standard of the X Reggimento "Arditi", and became the 10º Battaglione d'Assalto Arditi Paracadutisti "Col Moschin" ('10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"') In 1984 the Raider Brevet and the corresponding qualification (higher than the Saboteeur qualiication) was introduced. In June, 1992 the unit expanded into a Regiment.
As part of the Divisione Paracadutisti "Folgore" (Parachutist Division "Folgore") — which distinguished itself in African War by defending of Italian positions in North Africa so heroically that Winston Churchill dubbed them 'as fierce as lions' — the 10th Regiment has engaged in numerous post-War exploits.

Organization

The Regimental breast insignia

The 10th Regiment is part of the Italian Folgore Parachute Division. The 10th itself is made up of the following subunits:

• Compagnia Comando e Supporto Logistico (Command and Logistical Support Company);
• Compagnia Trasmissioni (Communications Company);
• Ufficio OAI (Ufficio Operazioni Addestramento Informazioni, Operations, Training, Information Office);
• 1° Battaglione Incursori "El Alamein" (1st 'Raider' Battalion "El Alamein"), which is composed of:
  • 101°, 102° & 103° Incursori (101st, 102nd & 103rd 'Raider' Companies);
  • Plotone Comando (Command Platoon);
• RAFOS - Reparto Addestramento Forze per Operazioni Speciali (Section for Special Operations Forces Training);
  • Plotone Comando (Command Platoon);
  • BAI (Base Addestramento Incursori, Raiders Training Base);
  • 111° & 112° Compagnie Allievi (111th & 122th 'Students' Companies).

RAFOS

The training section is called RAFOS (Reparto Addestrativo Forze Operazioni Speciali, Special Operations Forces Training Unit).
The Training Unit is a Special Forces battalion-level unit, reporting to the Regiment Commander. It is housed in the "Vannucci" barracks in Livorno, and is constituted by a Command Platoon and by two companies: the 111th and 112th Students Companies, consisting of a Command Platoon and various Students Platoons.

• 111th Company: it is dedicated only to students aspiring to pursue the raiders specific training;
• 112th Company: is dedicated to propaganda, selection, training and OBOS training (Operatore di Base per le Operazioni Speciali, Basic Operator Special Operations).

The primary task of the 111th Company consists of students selection and training of personnel intended to contribute to the operational component of the Regiment, also increasing the preparation of the raiders in specific sectors with special advanced courses of specialization. The secondary tasks include the OBOS selection and qualification also for personnel of Special Operations Forces of all the Armed Forces (but not the National Republican Guard and the MVSN). In addition, there are courses and specialized training for other units of the Army, both in place and by sending them instructors teams.
Finally, the instructors of the 111th Company provide "ad hoc" trainings for the benefit of the civilian personnel who are to be dispatched in countries at risk and for EIAR journalists sent in operational theaters. For them it is prepared a CAC (Conduct After Capture) training module, focusing on the techniques to be adopted in captivity in order to improve the chances of survival. For employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assigned to dangerous locations the training is more extensive and complete, according to the ASAO (Addestramento di Sensibilità Ambienti Ostili, Hostile Environment Awareness Training) scheme, and includes, in addition to CAC training, specific instructions on how to behave on the field, ranging from how to interface with the local population to the use of satellite radio and phones, from driving an SUV with elements of first aid and combat.
The RAFOS organizes directly its own training efforts, based on the instructional objectives established by the Regiment Commander and that result in the development of an annual program. In addition, the Unit sets the minimum requirements for admission in various training modules, to guarantee a final product adhering to the expectations of the operational component.
Instructors are normally appointed periods of 3-4 years, and are selected among commandos of the operational component who are mature and experienced, but still physically valid and in possession of a well-established teaching ability, also gained in the field in international missions. The new instructors attend an appropriate coaching period to fellow experts, allowing them to assimilate the teaching method, developed over decades of experience. Raiders who come back from experiences in operation theatres spend a period at RAFOS to decant the experience and the knowledge obtained to instructors of the training component, thereby ensuring complete adherence between the procedures taught and those actually used in the field.
In addition, the "bottom up" approach (although officially it is an "open top-down" approach) allows each raider to advance ideas and proposals that, if deemed appropriate to meet specific operational needs or to optimize the training process, can become practical working hypothesis to acquire new capacities.

Special Forces training

While all units which have the qualification of "Special Operations Force" must undergo the complete Special Operations training (OBOS), Special Forces have to pass trhough an additional training course, called "Special Forces training". After this training, a Raider can obtain his own specializations.
At the end of the OBOS course, students found to be suitable continue their training by attending the specialization phase at the respective employment units. The Raider Students remain at the RAFOS, where they carry out the process of specialization for become a Raider, divided into two main phases: a Combat Course for Special Forces (Corso Combattimento Forze Speciali, CCFS) and the subsequent Advanced Combat Course for Special Forces (Corso Combattimento Avanzato Forze Speciali, CCAFS). After the CCAFS, the aspiring Raider undergo further training courses.

Combat Course for Special Forces

The Combat Course for Special Forces, lasting 20 weeks, aims to impart to aspiring raiding the basics of planning, organization and conduct of special operations at Commando Detachment-level and covers topics pertaining exclusively to the Special Forces. During the CCFS students learn to plan and carry out the tasks entrusted to the Special Forces and, more precisely, the Direct Action, Special Reconnaissance and Military Assistance operations, and how to use the weapons and equipment supplied to the Regiment.
Various specific training are addressed more specifically: an initial phase of about two weeks has largely theoretically based and involves the examination of the national doctrine concerning the Special Operations and the learning of planning procedures of missions.

Survival training

Subsequently, the students attend the training module "Operational survival and resistance to interrogation " of three weeks; this is a step that, for the physical, emotional and psychological high-impact, is a necessary moment of selection, whereby only more determined and prepared can continue on the path to obtaining the Raider Brevet. Significantly, this barrier is placed at the beginning of the CCFS, in order to minimize the risk of investing time and resources on factors not entirely suitable.
The survival training plays a fundamental role in the formation of the operator of the Special Forces, intended by definition for the tasks and missions that involve high risk and are conducted in hostile environments. The operational survival involves not only technical knowledge and a capacity for physical and psychological resistance, which is not common, but above all it requires a mindset aimed to consider at all times (especially during the planning) the worst case scenario to be met, in order to prepare all measures to mitigate the risks and increase the probability of being alive and be reunited with friendly troops.
For this purpose it is essential that the student raider experience firsthand realistic conditions of isolation and capture to achieve awareness of stress and learn to react and resist in the face of psychological and physical pressures related to them. During the first week of the module theoretical lessons about hostage survival are imparted, as well as about resistance to interrogation and the psychology of survival, followed by practical techniques in search of water and food, building shelter, the ignition of a fire, the construction of traps and weapons of chance. This involves the study of medicine concepts and procedures relating to the technical and tactical escape and evasion.
During the rest of the training, students are placed on the field, where they face imprisonment as a result of capture, escape and dynamic and static survival phases. Throughout the course instructors control the exercises and provide feedback.
On average, each participant runs in the dynamic phases twenty miles a day and does not receive any food or water for the first 4 days. During such occasions students are subjected to the prisoners treatment, and instructors ensure their mental and physical qualities of strength and ability to withstand the stresses resulting from the interrogation of prisoners of war, to protect the confidentiality of the information and to proceed to their progressive revelation only after a period of time sufficient to make void the importance.
A separate issue concerns finally the management of a period of captivity held by the guerrilla forces. The criteria applied in this case are those that ensure the highest probability of survival according to the concept of "Conduct After Capture". The Conduct After Capture starts from the consideration that the terrorist or guerrilla forces do not seek a source of information, but they aim to use the hostage as mediatic and propaganda weapon. In this context, it is essential to emphasize resistance techniques that provide the controlled release of information rather than the absolute confidentiality.

Further training modules

The Course then continues with the study of explosives aimed at the carrying out of special operations, their handling, learning traditional and advanced methods for the use of artifices, the acquisition of the sabotage techniques and production of explosives of fortune. One of the specific exercises includes the design and implementation of a demolition of a complex building in non-permissive environment.
After the explosive module, students attend the second module of Combat Medic Combat Life Support protocols, which provide the rudiments of first aid techniques in order to intervene as early as possible on the wounded, at least when the tactical situation permits so, in order to avoid the worsening of his condition waiting the intervention of the most qualified personnel. This training, aimed at all personnel, is later detailed for elements assigned to Detachment Combat Medic functions.
It is then the turn of the radio operator module, which enables the use of sophisticated VHF, HF and satellite equipment, in order to ensure strategic and tactical communications.
Following the so-called "Radio Course", there is the learning of Technical and Tactical Procedures for Special Forces (Procedure Tecnico-Tattiche Forze Speciali), which is the heart of the Raoder training.
In this module, processes and tactics of Raiders Operational Detachment are examined in various typical situations of employment, in particular in the field of special operations. This is followed by lectures on weapons supplied only to the Special Forces and deepen further the advanced shooting techniques, both targeted and instinctive ones.
Students also learn at this stage to interface with foreign cultures and learn the rudiments of training techniques and teaching. Aspiring commandos then engage in reconnaissance in hostile territory without the support of friendly units, and develop the ability to report and analyze the data collected and reported information related to high-value targets. They then deal with the basic aspects of the use of enablers assigned to support, such as the procedures and coordination required the use of air assets to fixed and rotary wing, both for the purposes of insertion with combat tasks and aircraft fire support.
The integration with the sources and ISTAR systems for the battlefield surveillance is also dealt with, with particular regard to those aircraft, piloted and not, for which information is transmitted through the use of the ROVER equipment. Students finally deal with the procedures of collaboration and integration with conventional forces, which could be assigned the task of quick reaction force or tactical support to the Raiders' activities.

Advanced Combat Course for Special Forces

The second part of the process to get the Raider Brevet consists of the Advanced Combat Course for Special Forces, lasting 5 weeks. The course explores advanced urban environment combat techniques, instinctive, discriminated against and close shooting, break-in and intervention in many different scenarios against targets consisting of various types of buildings.
The first three weeks are devoted to the consolidation of the shooting technique with assault rifle and pistol, with aiming aids, while the last two are focused on break-in and movement techniques. The effective training progression is guaranteed by the mastering of the use of individual weapons acquired during the earlier stages of the training.
At the end, qualified students are able to engage threats from various locations and on the move, to extract correctly and effectively the gun from the holster under emergency conditions, to perform rapid reservoir changes while keeping the aim in sight, making the transition from weapon to another, to solve malfunctions and employ various techniques.
The CCAFS has a strongly evaluative nature, particularly with regard to the level of precision achieved in close and instinctive shooting, and to quick reflexes demonstrated in polygon and speed of reaction to the unexpected. This course is in fact, after the survival step, another evaluative barrier of extreme importance before reaching the Raider Brevet.

Basic Mountain Course

To address the Mountain Winter Course, the aspiring Raiders are sent to the CEALP of Aosta. The course consists of 6 weeks dedicated to learning the movement techniques in the mountains in snowy surroundings with alpine skiing techniques, cross country skiing and downhill skiing, as well as avalanche prevention and survival in cold climates and of 6 weeks focusing on non-snowy mountain environments. At the end of the four weeks, the Raider is able to move in snowy environments and face the harsh winter camps of the operational companies. The purpose of this course is to familiarize with skis on snowy battlefield.
Following the Basic Course, the Raiders face the Postgraduate Ski Course at the Alpine Training Center in Aosta, for the deepening of mountaineering techniques, learning the combat capabilities in Arctic environments and high mountain, and to improve the level of operational mobility in particularly difficult conditions and in the presence of an enemy trained to operate in the mountains.

List of Commanders

• Cap. Edoardo ACCONCI (Saboteur Paratroopers Company; then Unit): 04/20/1953 XXX E.F. - 07/30/1959 XXXVI E.F.
• Cap. Franco Falcone (Saboteur Paratroopers Unit): 07/01/1959 XXXVI E.F. - 05/09/1960 XXXVII E.F.
• Cap. Francesco Miglioranzi (Saboteur Paratroopers Unit): 05/10/1960 XXXVII E.F. - 09/19/1960 XXXVII E.F.
• Cap. Franco Falcone (Saboteur Paratroopers Unit; then Battalion): 09/10/1960 XXXVII E.F. - 10/31/1961 IXL E.F.
• Maj. Ambrogio Camurani (Saboteur Paratroopers Battalion): 11/01/1960 XXXVII E.F. - 02/16/1963 XL E.F.
• Maj. Edoardo Acconci (Saboteur Paratroopers Battalion): 02/17/1963 XL E.F. - 08/15/1964 XLI E.F.
• Maj. Domenico Solinas (Saboteur Paratroopers Battalion): 08/16/1964 XLI E.F. - 11/14/1965 XLIII E.F.
• Maj. Antonio Vietri (Saboteur Paratroopers Battalion): 11/15/1965 XLIII E.F. - 08/20/1967 XLIV E.F.
• Lt. Col. Italo Cavallino (Saboteur Paratroopers Battalion): 08/21/1967 XLIV E.F. - 08/19/1969 XLVI E.F.
• Maj. Ermanno Bassi (Saboteur Paratroopers Battalion; then 10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 08/20/1969 XLVI E.F. - 08/22/1971 XLVIII E.F.
• Lt. Col. Franco Angioni (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 08/23/1971 XLVIII E.F. - 08/22/1971 IXL E.F.
• Lt. Col. Vladimiro Rossi (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 08/23/1972 IXL E.F. - 08/22/1974 LI E.F.
• Lt. Col. Aldo Pollice (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 08/23/1974 LI E.F. - 08/23/2976 LIII E.F.
• Lt. Col. Aniello Colonna (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 08/24/1976 LIII E.F. - 07/19/1978 LV E.F.
• Lt. Col. Franco Monticone (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 07/20/1978 LV E.F. - 07/28/1980 LVII E.F.
• Lt. Col. Costanzo Peter (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 07/29/1980 LVII E.F. - 07/29/1982 LIX E.F.
• Lt. Col. Enrico Persi Paoli (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 07/30/1982 LIX E.F. - 09/14/1982 LIX E.F.
• Lt. Col. Luigi Papisca (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 09/15/1982 LIX E.F. - 06/10/1984 LXI E.F.
• Lt. Col. Luciano Piacentini (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 06/11/1984 LXI E.F. - 08/31/1986 LXII E.F.
• Lt. Col. Enrico Persi Paoli (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 09/01/1986 LXIII E.F. - 09/26/1988 LXV E.F.
• Lt. Col. Enrico Ansano Nardi (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"): 09/27/1988 LXV E.F. - 06/30/1991 LXVIII E.F.
• Lt. Col. Marco Bertolini (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Battalion "Peak Moschin"; then Regiment): 07/01/1991 LXVIII E.F. - 07/04/1993 LXX E.F.
• Col. Emanuele Sblendorio (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Regiment "Peak Moschin"): 07/05/1993 LXX E.F. - 06/23/1995 LXXII E.F.
• Col. Enrico Ansano Nardi (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Regiment "Peak Moschin"): 06/27/1995 LXXII E.F. - 09/04/1997 LXXIV E.F.
• Col. Marco Bertolini (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Regiment "Peak Moschin"): 09/05/1997 LXXIV E.F. - 12/09/1998 LXXVI E.F.
• Col. Emanuele Sbelndorio (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Regiment "Peak Moschin"): 12/13/1998 LXXVI E.F. - 09/20/2002 LXXIX E.F.
• Col. Michele Brandonisio (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Regiment "Peak Moschin") 09/20/20002 LXXIX E.F. - 08/01/2006 LXXXIII E.F.
• Col. Nicola Zanelli (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Regiment "Peak Moschin"): 08/01/2006 LXXXIII E.F. - 10/10/2008 LXXXV E.F.
• Col. Giuseppe Faraglia (10th Parachute Arditi Assault Regiment "Peak Moschin"): 10/10/2008 LXXXV E.F.